Hearing in murder case results in lowered bond

Death possibly stemmed from road rage incident

Published: Friday, September 27, 2013 at 3:12 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, September 27, 2013 at 3:12 p.m.

A hearing Friday morning resulted in the bond being lowered for a man being jailed for first-degree murder in connection to a homicide near Pilgrim Auto Electric.

Davidson County Judge Ted Royster set the secured bond for 35-year-old Derek Gribble at $100,000. The man, who was previously in custody under no bond, is accused in the death of 22-year-old Colton Edward Johnson. Authorities alleged Johnson died after being stabbed May 28 in the throat in front of Pilgrim Auto Electric on West 11th Avenue.

Gribble was taken into custody shortly after the stabbing incident off of West Center Street Extension by a trooper after being chased by a woman who witnessed the stabbing. Lexington Police Chief Tad Kepley has said a possible factor leading to the altercation was road rage. Warrants have indicated Gribble and Johnson were involved in an incident on South Main Street that led to an altercation.

Friday, Davidson County Assistant District Attorney Alan Martin requested Royster set Gribble's secured bond at $250,000. Referring to the possible flight risk of Gribble, the prosecutor stated the defendant has never shared an address of residing in Davidson County with the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles and has previously had addresses on file with the state agency on two occasions in Lenoir, one in Kernersville for three months and four addresses in Alamance County. Among his arguments, Martin also urged the judge to consider Gribble fleeing the scene after the May incident, and the fact the witness stated she had to drive 95 miles per hour to catch up with Gribble.

Martin also said he was concerned about an instance of visual hallucination when Gribble while in custody asked for clippers to remove blood of the victim from underneath his fingernails. However, there was no blood, the assistant district attorney said.

"We felt like (a $250,000 bond) was minimum for an alleged homicide where there is a videotape of the episode," Davidson County District Attorney Garry Frank said after Royster set Gribble's bond.

Frank was referring to surveillance video that caught the stabbing incident. The video, which was played in court Friday, shows Johnson pulling into Pilgrim Electric first and then Gribble pulling in behind him. As Gribble's vehicle comes to a rolling stop, he gets out of the vehicle and within seconds Johnson is stabbed and Gribble flees the scene in his vehicle.

"It is apparent from our video, it was a situation of anger and malice," Martin said in court as he expressed concern for the community regarding Gribble's release. The assistant district attorney explained Gribble and Johnson were strangers to each other.

Gribble's attorney, Locke T. Clifford, says his client was not guilty and was using self-defense during the incident. Clifford said Gribble used a fishing knife after Johnson swung with his fists twice at his client. The defense attorney added that during the video Gribble's head goes back once after a punch, and told the court a toxicology reports shows cocaine was in Johnson's system. Clifford further argued Gribble and his passenger were trying to get Johnson's license plate number when they pulled behind his vehicle.

"It is a clear state of self-defense," Clifford said. "So much to this danger to community."

Clifford pointed out Gribble's mother, grandmother and aunt were in the courtroom and stated the grandmother's intentions of putting up her house in Alamance County for the bond. As of Friday afternoon, Gribble remained in the jail.

Clifford also called Capt. Roger Brammer, assistant jail administrator for the Davidson County Detention Center, to take the stand. Brammer said Gribble initially came into the jail appearing to be distraught, was crying and appeared to be remorseful. After an evaluation by a nurse and detention center staff, a judge signed a safe-keeping order for Gribble to be housed at Central Prison in Raleigh, a condition that Royster removed Friday. Gribble, however, has been in the detention center since Aug. 5, a day before his Rule 24 hearing where prosecutors announced they won't seek the death penalty.

As a result of questions from Clifford, Brammer said Gribble's demeanor is now much different as he will speak. He said Gribble is respectful and he's heard no negative reports on the inmate.

In the event Gribble is released, Royster ordered he have no drug or alcohol consumption, have no contact with the victim's family, be subject to electronic monitoring and have no weapon of any kind in his possession or in the premise of where he occupies.

Family members of Johnson declined to comment outside of the courtroom.

Gribble's trial is set for Feb. 10 of next year. If convicted of first-degree murder, Gribble would spend life in prison without parole

Clifford released a statement late Friday afternoon regarding the case.

"North Carolina law recognizes the right of self defense. Derek is remorseful over the death of Mr. Johnson, whose death was entirely unintentional."

Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or at darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick.

<p>A hearing Friday morning resulted in the bond being lowered for a man being jailed for first-degree murder in connection to a homicide near Pilgrim Auto Electric.</p><p>Davidson County Judge Ted Royster set the secured bond for 35-year-old Derek Gribble at $100,000. The man, who was previously in custody under no bond, is accused in the death of 22-year-old Colton Edward Johnson. Authorities alleged Johnson died after being stabbed May 28 in the throat in front of Pilgrim Auto Electric on West 11th Avenue.</p><p>Gribble was taken into custody shortly after the stabbing incident off of West Center Street Extension by a trooper after being chased by a woman who witnessed the stabbing. Lexington Police Chief Tad Kepley has said a possible factor leading to the altercation was road rage. Warrants have indicated Gribble and Johnson were involved in an incident on South Main Street that led to an altercation.</p><p>Friday, Davidson County Assistant District Attorney Alan Martin requested Royster set Gribble's secured bond at $250,000. Referring to the possible flight risk of Gribble, the prosecutor stated the defendant has never shared an address of residing in Davidson County with the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles and has previously had addresses on file with the state agency on two occasions in Lenoir, one in Kernersville for three months and four addresses in Alamance County. Among his arguments, Martin also urged the judge to consider Gribble fleeing the scene after the May incident, and the fact the witness stated she had to drive 95 miles per hour to catch up with Gribble.</p><p>Martin also said he was concerned about an instance of visual hallucination when Gribble while in custody asked for clippers to remove blood of the victim from underneath his fingernails. However, there was no blood, the assistant district attorney said. </p><p>"We felt like (a $250,000 bond) was minimum for an alleged homicide where there is a videotape of the episode," Davidson County District Attorney Garry Frank said after Royster set Gribble's bond.</p><p>Frank was referring to surveillance video that caught the stabbing incident. The video, which was played in court Friday, shows Johnson pulling into Pilgrim Electric first and then Gribble pulling in behind him. As Gribble's vehicle comes to a rolling stop, he gets out of the vehicle and within seconds Johnson is stabbed and Gribble flees the scene in his vehicle.</p><p>"It is apparent from our video, it was a situation of anger and malice," Martin said in court as he expressed concern for the community regarding Gribble's release. The assistant district attorney explained Gribble and Johnson were strangers to each other.</p><p>Gribble's attorney, Locke T. Clifford, says his client was not guilty and was using self-defense during the incident. Clifford said Gribble used a fishing knife after Johnson swung with his fists twice at his client. The defense attorney added that during the video Gribble's head goes back once after a punch, and told the court a toxicology reports shows cocaine was in Johnson's system. Clifford further argued Gribble and his passenger were trying to get Johnson's license plate number when they pulled behind his vehicle.</p><p>"It is a clear state of self-defense," Clifford said. "So much to this danger to community."</p><p>Clifford pointed out Gribble's mother, grandmother and aunt were in the courtroom and stated the grandmother's intentions of putting up her house in Alamance County for the bond. As of Friday afternoon, Gribble remained in the jail.</p><p>Clifford also called Capt. Roger Brammer, assistant jail administrator for the Davidson County Detention Center, to take the stand. Brammer said Gribble initially came into the jail appearing to be distraught, was crying and appeared to be remorseful. After an evaluation by a nurse and detention center staff, a judge signed a safe-keeping order for Gribble to be housed at Central Prison in Raleigh, a condition that Royster removed Friday. Gribble, however, has been in the detention center since Aug. 5, a day before his Rule 24 hearing where prosecutors announced they won't seek the death penalty.</p><p>As a result of questions from Clifford, Brammer said Gribble's demeanor is now much different as he will speak. He said Gribble is respectful and he's heard no negative reports on the inmate. </p><p>In the event Gribble is released, Royster ordered he have no drug or alcohol consumption, have no contact with the victim's family, be subject to electronic monitoring and have no weapon of any kind in his possession or in the premise of where he occupies.</p><p>Family members of Johnson declined to comment outside of the courtroom.</p><p>Gribble's trial is set for Feb. 10 of next year. If convicted of first-degree murder, Gribble would spend life in prison without parole</p><p>Clifford released a statement late Friday afternoon regarding the case. </p><p>"North Carolina law recognizes the right of self defense. Derek is remorseful over the death of Mr. Johnson, whose death was entirely unintentional."</p><p>Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or at darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick.</p>